Variety: Jon Voight Discusses Republican Candidates at RJC Gala

Voight was honored at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Summer Gala Sunday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel with the Hollywood Visionary Award. He said he’s impressed with the slew of Republicans who have already declared.

“It’s good to have debate — real debate — a difference on issues and different sides of the issues,” Voight said. “It’s an important election. I hope people are paying attention.”

Matthew Brooks, executive director of the RJC, said a possible Republican president is the best choice for the future of Israel’s relationship with the United States.

“It’s going to be very clear between a Hillary Clinton-likely candidacy, which means four more years of Barack Obama’s failed policies that relate to Israel, or it means a radically different Republican policy, which returns Israel back to its rightful place as a true and unwavering ally and a special friend of the United States.”

Voight specifically addressed Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who recently created controversy over his filibuster of the Patriot Act. Paul announced his bid for the presidency on April 7.

“I understand that he’s a little controversial at the moment and he’s using that in some way to get a little attention for his campaign, and that’s good, too,” Voight said.

The Republican Jewish Coalition is an organization of Jewish Republicans, with more than 40,000 members and 45 chapters nationwide.